Doctor Who spin-off makes waves this Christmas

Doctor Who may not be returning until Christmas 2026, but a spin-off series emerges from the deep this holiday season with The War Between the Land and the Sea.

Russell T Davies, Showrunner, Writer and Executive Producer says: “This is a huge, spectacular Christmas treat, with heroes and monsters and battles and romance, in a world on the edge of disaster. And remember. Watch the seas!”

The five-part series will showcase how the world reacts when a fearsome and ancient species emerges from the ocean, dramatically revealing themselves to humanity and triggering an international crisis. Featuring a star-studded cast including Russell Tovey as Barclay, Gugu Mbatha-Raw as Salt, Jemma Redgrave as Kate Lethbridge-Stewart, Ruth Madeley as Shirley Ann Bingham, Alexander Devrient as Colonel Ibrahim, and Colin McFarlane as General Austin Pierce.

Other previously announced cast members include Adrian Lukis, Patrick Baladi, Francesca Corney, Mei Mac, Vincent Franklin, Waleed Hammad, Iestyn Arwel, Hannah Donaldson, Manpreet Bachu, and Ann Akinjirin.

The upcoming Doctor Who spin-off series is darker in tone, similar to Torchwood, and features a soundtrack composed by Lorne Balfe (His Dark Materials). This is great news, as I was hoping Balfe would work on seasons one and two of Doctor Who on Disney+.

The War Between the Land and the Sea is available for pre-order from Amazon (affiliate link).

Are you looking forward to The War Between the Land and the Sea? Let me know in the comments below.

Spielberg and Williams reunite for UFO movie

Director Steven Spielberg (Jaws) and Hollywood composer John Williams (Star Wars) have a storied history spanning decades.

A lifelong love of movie soundtracks began with Williams' score for Star Wars, and soon I amassed a collection of his works from Close Encounters of the Third Kind to Jaws. To say Williams' soundtracks have played a pivotal role in my life's turbulent journey would be an understatement. His music remains inspirational in the darkest of times.

There’s a profound resonance with Spielberg's and my own childhood (overshadowed by a life-changing trauma) and escaping into a darkened theatre to watch Spielberg’s movies and those of his friend and longtime collaborator, Star Wars creator George Lucas. At the end of Close Encounters of the Third Kind, 6-year-old me desperately wanted to board the mothership with Roy Neary (Richard Dreyfuss).

The creative duo are reuniting for their 30th movie, Spielberg's untitled UFO project starring Josh O'Connor, Emily Blunt, Colin Firth, Colman Domingo, and Eve Hewson.

Spielberg's UFO movie is scheduled for release in the summer of 2026. I'll be standing in line.

Doctor Who returns Christmas 2026

Following months of speculation, the BBC and Disney+ have parted ways after two seasons of Doctor Who.

Lindsay Salt, Director of Drama at the BBC, said: “We’d like to thank Disney+ for being terrific global partners and collaborators over the past two seasons, and for the upcoming The War Between the Land and the Sea. The BBC remains fully committed to Doctor Who, which continues to be one of our most loved dramas, and we are delighted that Russell T Davies has agreed to write us another spectacular Christmas special for 2026. We can assure fans, the Doctor is not going anywhere, and we will be announcing plans for the next series in due course, which will ensure the TARDIS remains at the heart of the BBC.”

With Disney+ no longer involved, will another streamer materialise? See what I did there, fellow Whovians? Rumours continue to surround Prime Video and Netflix. What about Apple TV? The Cupertino-based streamer has established itself as a home to prestige sci-fi, and the $4 trillion tech titan has money.

Before next year’s Christmas special, fans of the beloved series still have much to enjoy with The War Between the Land and the Sea heading to BBC iPlayer and BBC One later this year, as well as a brand-new animation series for CBeebies, which is in development.

The Doctor Who Christmas special will be produced by Bad Wolf with BBC Studios for the BBC.

What are your thoughts? Let me know in the comments below.

LEGO Ideas The Goonies

Hey You Guys! On Friday, the LEGO Group, in partnership with Warner Bros. Discovery Global Consumer Products, announced the long-awaited LEGO Ideas The Goonies set for November.

Ke Huy Quan, the Oscar-winning actor who played Data, comments: “Revisiting Data after all these years - but this time in LEGO form - has been such a joyful experience. The Goonies was all about heart, adventure, and friendship, and this set captures that spirit in fantastic detail. From the booby traps to the treasure room, it’s like stepping back into the tunnels with the gang - only now, I get to share that magic with a whole new generation of fans.”

Additionally, shoppers who purchase the LEGO Ideas The Goonies set (21363) between 1st to 7th November will receive LEGO Ideas The Goonies: The Walshes’ Attic (40773) as a Gift with Purchase, available while supplies last.

LEGO Ideas The Goonies is available from LEGO AU, CA, UK and US (affiliate links).

Will you be adding LEGO Ideas The Goonies to your collection? Let me know in the comments below.

Stranger Things finale coming to cinemas

Netflix has announced that the Stranger Things series finale will be shown in select cinemas in America and Canada.

“We’re beyond excited that fans will have the chance to experience the final episode of Stranger Things in theaters — it’s something we’ve dreamed about for years, and we’re so grateful to Ted, Bela, and everyone at Netflix for making it happen,” series creators Matt and Ross Duffer tell Tudum. “Getting to see it on the big screen, with incredible sound, picture, and a room full of fans, feels like the perfect — dare we say bitchin’ — way to celebrate the end of this adventure.”

Originally, the 2-hour finale, entitled "The Right Side Up," was only going to be streamed on Netflix, but fans (myself included) took to social media to express their enthusiasm for finale fan screenings.

Read the official synopsis:

"The fall of 1987. Hawkins is scarred by the opening of the Rifts, and our heroes are united by a single goal: find and kill Vecna. But he has vanished — his whereabouts and plans unknown. Complicating their mission, the government has placed the town under military quarantine and intensified its hunt for Eleven, forcing her back into hiding. As the anniversary of Will’s disappearance approaches, so does a heavy, familiar dread. The final battle is looming — and with it, a darkness more powerful and more deadly than anything they’ve faced before. To end this nightmare, they’ll need everyone — the full party — standing together, one last time."

Stranger Things 5 releases with the first four episodes on 26th November, followed by three episodes on Christmas, and the finale episode on New Year’s Eve. It has not yet been confirmed whether the finale will be released in any UK cinemas.

Are you looking forward to the final season of Stranger Things on Netflix? Let me know in the comments below.

Fallout Day

It's Fallout Day.

23rd October 2077 marks the most significant event in Fallout’s alternate history – the day of the Great War that destroyed the world of old and from its ashes birthed the franchise’s take on the post-apocalypse.

Bethesda has announced Fallout 4: Anniversary Edition. The update will be released on 10th November and is coming to the Nintendo Switch 2 in 2026.



Fallout season two premieres on Prime Video on 17th December, and Ella Purnell, who plays Lucy MacLean, a sheltered Vault Dweller, teased the following to Empire magazine: “At times, it’s like [they] are on this buddy road trip. And then other times, they’re so much at arms. They’re trying to influence each other and see who’s going to rub off on whom. Is the Ghoul going to become good? Is Lucy going to become bad? Or are they going to be somewhere in the middle?”

The dynamic between Lucy and the Ghoul (Walton Goggins) was the beating heart of season one, and I can't wait to follow their road trip to New Vegas this holiday season.

Fallout is streaming exclusively on Prime Video (affiliate link).

How are you celebrating Fallout Day? Let me know in the comments below.

Adam Driver on The Hunt for Ben Solo

After his debut in Star Wars: The Force Awakens, Kylo Ren/Ben Solo, played by Adam Driver, quickly became a fan-favourite as he grappled with the light and the dark side of the Force before sacrificing himself to save Rey (Daisy Ridley) in Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker.

Driver recently spoke to AP about his idea for a standalone Star Wars movie. "I had been talking about doing another one since 2021. Kathleen (Kennedy) had reached out. I always said: With a great director and a great story, I’d be there in a second. I loved that character and loved playing him."

Whilst Lucasfilm loved the idea developed by Oscar-winning director Stephen Soderbergh and Rebecca Blunt, the project fell apart after they took it to Disney, who had forgotten that no one's ever really gone in Star Wars.

"We took it to Bob Iger and Alan Bergman, and they said no. They didn’t see how Ben Solo was alive. And that was that," Driver told AP. "It was called ‘The Hunt for Ben Solo’ and it was really cool. But it is no more, so I can finally talk about it."

Soderbergh, in a statement, said: “I really enjoyed making the movie in my head. I’m just sorry the fans won’t get to see it.”

What do you think? Was it a missed opportunity? Let me know in the comments below.

The Force Awakens trailer 10 years on

This year marks the 10th anniversary of Star Wars: The Force Awakens.

Lucasfilm remains relatively quiet on the matter, instead choosing to focus on Star Wars: The Mandalorian and Grogu and Star Wars: Starfighter. The latter movie is not due in cinemas until 2027 to celebrate the 50th anniversary of George Lucas' space opera franchise.

Yesterday marked 10 years since the official trailer for Star Wars: The Force Awakens was released during Monday Night Football. At the time, I wrote how it evoked all the nostalgia for the original trilogy.



Much has changed in the past decade with the House of Mouse pivoting to Star Wars spin-off series on Disney+, but I'll never forget the anticipation and booking tickets at midnight to see the first instalment in the sequel trilogy on the day of release in December 2015.

Forbes revealed that with costs of $638.9 million (£452 million), Star Wars: The Force Awakens is Disney’s most expensive Star Wars movie and one of the most expensive films in Hollywood history. Remarkably, it is also one of the most profitable.

What are your memories of watching the official trailer for Star Wars: The Force Awakens? Let me know in the comments below.

Star Wars Eclipse still in development

4 years ago, Star Wars Eclipse was announced with fanfare from Lucasfilm Games, followed by controversy as developer Quantic Dream faced allegations of a toxic working environment.

Since then, there has been silence until now.

“For over 28 years, Quantic Dream has been pushing the boundaries of interactive storytelling,” founder David Cage said in a statement. “With award-winning titles like Heavy Rain, Beyond: Two Souls, and Detroit: Become Human, more than 25 million players worldwide have shared the journeys of Ethan Mars, Jodie Holmes, Kara, Markus and Connor with us.”

As a fan of Quantic Dream's previous PlayStation console exclusives Heavy Rain and Detroit: Become Human, I was excited to play Star Wars Eclipse. Set during the High Republic era, Star Wars Eclipse is an intricately branching action-adventure game that can be experienced in many ways and puts the destinies of multiple playable characters in your hands.

“Of course, development of Star Wars Eclipse continues, and we are eager to share more with you in the future,” he said.

Are you looking forward to Star Wars Eclipse? Let me know in the comments below.

Drew Struzan, legendary poster artist, dies

On Tuesday, it was announced on Instagram that Drew Struzan, a legendary Hollywood artist famous for his collaborations with directors George Lucas (Star Wars) and Steven Spielberg (Jaws), has passed away at the age of 78.

"It is with a heavy heart that I must tell you that Drew Struzan has moved on from this world as of yesterday, October 13th. I feel it is important that you all know how many times he expressed to me the joy he felt knowing how much you appreciated his art. - Greg, IG manager"

For generations of film fans (myself included), Struzan's iconic movie posters from Indiana Jones to Star Wars were woven into the fabric of popular culture. In the eighties, when I walked into a local video rental store owned by family friends in a pre-streaming world, I would look for his art on the cover of VHS cases. John Carpenter's The Thing always stood out, years before I saw it on ITV.

“Drew was an artist of the highest order,” says Star Wars creator George Lucas. “His illustrations fully captured the excitement, tone and spirit of each of my films his artwork represented. His creativity, through a single illustrated image, opened up a world full of life in vivid color…even at a glance. I was lucky to have worked with him time and time again.”

I may be misremembering, but I'm sure his unused poster art for Star Wars: Revenge of the Jedi, before the final chapter in the original Star Wars trilogy was renamed at the last minute, was used on toy aisles to promote the latest merchandise. Certainly, it was somehow seared into my childhood memories.

“When one thinks of iconic movie poster artists, Drew Struzan is the first name that comes to mind,” says Lucasfilm President Kathleen Kennedy. “Drew’s unforgettable artwork has touched so many hearts throughout the years, and I have been thankful to have worked with him on films such as E.T., Back to the Future, Hook, and the Indiana Jones series. His artwork is so imaginative, so beautiful, it elevated the movie-going experience for those films before audiences even stepped foot into a theater. Drew’s work is timeless, and will undoubtedly inspire both artists and film lovers for generations to come.”

As I write this, I'm poignantly listening to The Spielberg/Williams Collaboration on Apple Music, featuring album art by Struzan.

RIP Drew Struzan.

Apple TV+ is now simply Apple TV for F1

In a press release for F1: The Movie, Apple quietly announced that Apple TV+ is rebranding as Apple TV.

“It’s been thrilling to see audiences around the world embrace F1: The Movie in theatres,” said producer Jerry Bruckheimer. “Now, we’re beyond excited to bring this exhilarating, cinematic ride to fans everywhere through Apple TV’s unparalleled global reach. Partnering with Apple and Formula 1 has been an incredible journey, and we’re proud that even more viewers, from every corner of the world, will get to experience the heart-pounding action and passion that defines F1.”

Apple TV+ is now simply Apple TV, with a vibrant new identity.

This holiday season, I'll be watching F1: The Movie on Apple TV on Apple TV... on Apple TV!

Will you be watching F1: The Movie on Apple TV? What do you think about the change from Apple TV+ to Apple TV? Let me know in the comments below.

Alien gets Monster High makeover for Halloween

H.R. Giger's iconic xenomorph design from the Alien franchise gets a Monster High makeover that slays this Halloween from Mattel Creations.

“This elegantly designed doll pays tribute to the iconic Xenomorph, blending sci-fi inspiration with high fashion. It features a sheer black dress with subtle exoskeleton-inspired embellishments and a headpiece that echoes the creature’s elongated skull. With refined detail and a unique aesthetic, this release offers a fresh take on a pop culture legend and is ideal for collectors and fans of science fiction. Packaged in premium collectable packaging and accompanied by a Certificate of Authenticity, this Skullector delivers horror at its most stylish.”

The Monster High Skullector dolls usually sell out in minutes after going on sale. Following the success of Alien: Romulus and Alien: Earth, the latest crossover will be no exception when it goes on sale to the public on 17th October. Whilst I'm not a Monster High collector, as an Alien fan, this is a must-have for the spooky season.

Will you be adding Monster High Skullector Alien Doll to your collection? Which other iconic horror franchises would you like to see get the Monster High treatment? Let me know in the comments below.

Tron toys at New York Comic Con

During San Diego Comic Con (SDCC), Hasbro's Steve Evans, senior design director for Marvel and Star Wars, teased Tron toys based on Disney's Tron franchise. Evans handed out 3.5-inch floppy disks, which contained a teaser image.

Fast forward to today. Hasbro has announced a Tron HasLab and 6-inch Tron: Legacy action figures at New York Comic Con (NYCC).

The latest HasLab is Tron: Heroes of the Grid, which features five 3.75-inch action figures based on Tron, Flynn, Yori, Sark, and a Program, two Light Cycles and an LED-lit display stand. The action figure sculpts look amazing, but it shouldn't be a HasLab requiring 10,000 backers and costing £259.99! Granted, a Recognizer or Tank would have been cool! However, in view of current market conditions, I think it's egregious.

I was hoping for a Hasbro Pulse exclusive line of action figures and accessories, as I missed out on the original toy line from Tomy. Even so, I did have fun collecting Tomytronic 3D handheld gaming devices inspired by Tron.

Hasbro 375 is a new line of 3.75-inch action figures inspired by the vintage Kenner Star Wars toys, beginning with Tron: Heroes of the Grid. Perfect for world-building on your desktop, I would like to see Indiana Jones and the Micronauts next.

Will you be backing the Tron: Heroes of the Grid HasLab? Which Hasbro 375 action figures would you like to see released in the future? Let me know in the comments below.

You are the prey in Predator: Badlands

On Monday, 20th Century Studios dropped a final trailer for Predator: Badlands from the director of Prey.



Read the official synopsis:

"Predator: Badlands, which stars Elle Fanning and Dimitrius Schuster-Koloamatangi, is set in the future on a remote planet, where a young Predator (Schuster-Koloamatangi), outcast from his clan, finds an unlikely ally in Thia (Fanning) and embarks on a treacherous journey in search of the ultimate adversary."

The film is directed by Dan Trachtenberg and produced by John Davis, Dan Trachtenberg, Marc Toberoff, Ben Rosenblatt, and Brent O’Connor.

The announcement of a PG-13 rating has sparked some trepidation among Predator fans online. Still, Trachtenberg and Rosenblatt claim there will be no compromise in terms of quality compared to previous movie entries in the franchise.

"We don't have any humans in the movie, and so we don't have any human red blood," Rosenblatt confirmed to IGN. "We're going to go as hard as we possibly can within those constraints, and we think we'll be able to do some pretty awesomely gruesome stuff. But in colours other than red."

Both Benjamin Wallfish and Sarah Schachner are returning to score Predator: Badlands! It’s been officially announced that Wallfisch, who previously scored Predator: Killer of Killers and Schachner, who scored Prey, are collaborating on the score for Predator: Badlands! I hope Alan Silvestri's main theme from Predator is reprised.

Predator: Badlands opens exclusively in cinemas on 7th November in IMAX, Dolby Cinema, Cinemark XD, 4DX, ScreenX, and premium screens everywhere.

Have you watched the final trailer for Predator: Badlands? Let me know in the comments below.

Hulu launches internationally on Disney+

This Wednesday, Hulu launches on Disney+ in the UK and internationally.

All current Star content migrates seamlessly to the new Hulu section. Shows like Only Murders in the Building, Grey’s Anatomy, Modern Family, and newer hits like High Potential, Rivals, and Alien: Earth will be under the Hulu banner.

Along with the rollout of Hulu to replace the Star brand, an ESPN tile will be available in selected territories, and Disney+ is receiving a much-needed makeover. The homepage will feature an improved "For You" tab with better personalised recommendations and a new "Live Hub" for live sports, news, and events.

Disney has recently courted controversy with chat show host Jimmy Kimmel, and an annual price hike is not good optics. I've been a subscriber since the launch of Disney+ in the UK in March 2020. However, I am now considering cancelling an annual subscription next year.

What are your thoughts on Hulu launching internationally on Disney+? Are you cancelling Disney+? Let me know in the comments below.

Peanuts stay on Apple TV+ through 2030

Charlie Brown and Snoopy stay on Apple TV+ until 2030.

"In this milestone 75th anniversary year, it feels incredibly meaningful to continue our collaboration with our brilliant partners at WildBrain, Peanuts Worldwide and Lee Mendelson," Tara Sorensen, head of children's programming for Apple TV+, said in a statement. "Our commitment, dedication and passion for ‘Peanuts' runs deep. These beloved characters and stories hold a timeless significance, resonating with people of all ages across the globe."

To catch your favourite Charlie Brown holiday special at no cost, mark these dates on your calendar:

It’s the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown: Saturday, 18th October and Sunday, 19th October
A Charlie Brown Thanksgiving: Saturday, 15th November and Sunday, 16th November
A Charlie Brown Christmas: Saturday, 13th December and Sunday, 14th December

Reruns of the beloved holiday specials on the BBC were a childhood staple in the run-up to Christmas. A cousin gifted me a Snoopy soft toy when I was in a children's hospital, and it remains a cherished gift.

Are Peanuts specials part of your holiday traditions? Let me know in the comments below.

Echo Dot Max looks like the Death Star

Amazon has announced a new lineup of Alexa-enabled devices with premium audio for the autumn.

The all-new Echo Dot Max, Echo Studio, Echo Show 8, and Echo Show 11 deliver more processing power for premium audio, feature an all-new look and feel that Amazon thinks customers will love, and are ready to unlock new-generation artificial intelligence (AI) experiences through Alexa+ once available in the UK. With Alexa+, you can now have full-blown conversations with the AI, while also picking up on colloquial expressions.

As a fan of the Echo Dot, the Echo Dot Max has caught my attention, as I'm considering replacing my existing Echo Dot (3rd generation) smart speaker on Black Friday. It looks like a miniature Death Star. This Star Wars fan approves and I can't wait to review it.

Pre-order Echo Dot Max from Amazon (affiliate link).

Do you like the Echo Dot Max? Does it remind you of the Death Star? Let me know in the comments below.

The Rubber-Keyed Wonder

Tron: Ares has inspired a nostalgic journey back to the 8-bit wonder years of my childhood!

Christmas 1982 was all about the rubber-keyed Sinclair ZX Spectrum 48K, Horace Goes Skiing and Disney’s Tron (available on Disney+)!

The first time I saw a computer in person was at my dad’s lighting shop in Truro in the late seventies. The Commodore PET looked like something out of Star Trek and captured my nascent imagination. Soon after, a BBC Micro materialised in middle school. However, having our own 8-bit home computer was transcendental!

Countless hours were spent and lost inputting basic code from the pack-in manual and Crash magazine at weekends.

And games! So many games in the age of Atari!

Most notably from Ultimate Play the Game, AKA Rare. Rare, now part of Microsoft Studios, celebrates its 40th anniversary this year and was synonymous with the 8-bit era before working with Nintendo on the revolutionary Donkey Kong Country for the 16-bit Super Nintendo Entertainment System (SNES)! Followed by GoldenEye and Perfect Dark in the nineties.

Plugging in the Currah μSpeech peripheral for the ZX Spectrum unlocked voices in Atic Atac years before Atari’s Gauntlet gobbled up my allowance at the arcades! Titles such as Knight Lore were revolutionary. And Ocean’s Daley Thompson’s Decathlon culminated in the premature demise of joysticks, much to the chagrin of my late mum.

Apple and Google dominate in this homogenous mobile-centric era. However, I miss the halcyon days of walking into a computer store like Laskys or Silica Shop and seeing Apple, Atari, Commodore, MSX, and many more on store shelves.

I would go on to own a Sinclair ZX Spectrum+ (the beloved rubber-keyed original was handed down to a younger cousin, who soon broke it), a Commodore 64, and all things Apple thereafter (my iPhone and iPad wallpapers are based on the iconic ZX Spectrum rainbow motif). But nothing will surpass discovering that little 8-bit home computer, with the rubbery keyboard, filled with infinite possibilities under the Christmas tree in 1982...

The Rubber-Keyed Wonder tells the story of legendary British inventor Clive Sinclair and the birth of the ZX Spectrum home computer in 1982, opening the door to a new world of technological possibilities and enabling home users to learn programming - directly contributing to the video game boom of the 1980s.

Watch The Rubber-Keyed Wonder on Prime Video (affiliate link).

Have you watched The Rubber-Keyed Wonder? What are your 8-bit home computer memories? Let me know in the comments below.